The most wonderful time...

Seems like overnight that the dark and ghoulish have been
replaced with all things light and twinkly. Not to fear,
this year I'm creating some fun new orange and black winter
pieces. I'm having a lot of fun with this new direction and can
tell already that it's going to be difficult to part with these new
creations. I'll be posting more sneak peeks throughout the
week and plan on having some new pieces posted in
Etsy by the weekend.

Fall Pictures from Parker, CO

More fall pictures....this time from our home.

Gothic Arch Halloween ATCs - Yahoo Group Swap

From top left:
Kris Dickinson, Muriel Fulgione, Carrie Rees;
Phyllis Terrell, Laura Carson, Heather Bloom.
Such wonderful ATCs ladies....thanks for a great swap!

it's over

The cobwebs are gone. The candles have been extinguished. Pumpkins are disappearing from neighbours' front porches. Leftover chocolate bars have almost all been eaten (except for the Coffee Crisps - I know Halloween is truly over when all I have left are Coffee Crisps!). My daily postings are over too, as I am compelled to turn my attention to everything I typically neglect during the long Halloween season (did anyone remember to feed the cat?). But of course . . . Halloween is never really far away. It's there all year. Lurking just behind the Christmas tree, the Valentine hearts and the Easter eggs. I'll often see something that catches my attention . . . or reminds me of a Halloween night long past . . . or gives me a new prop idea. But for now I'm off to spend the next few weeks reflecting on Halloween past, browsing through photos from all the wonderful haunts out there, planning for next year, and maybe, maybe even get an early start on some props. It would be a nice change not to run out of time trying to get everything done in the fall.

Harvest Home ATC Swap

From Top Left:
Kris Dickinson, Alice Hyde, Carrie Rees;
Julia Ziemann, Pam Sparks, Beth Warner;
William Wratten, Jan Larson, Donna Hansen.
Thanks for a fabulous swap everyone!

the day after . . .

November 1st is usually a quiet, relaxed sort of day. Un-decorating day. And this November 1st is a beautiful day: bright sunshine . . . a light breeze swirling through the dry leaves, torn curtains and remaining cobwebs . . . and freezing cold. The jack-o-lanterns on the porch do not have to fear rotting any time soon. They're safe. If the temperature remains where it is today, they just might make it until Christmas. It's time now to enjoy a last pumpkin spice latte and some leftover miniature chocolate bars (they're small so you can eat 10 times as many) and reflect on a great Halloween night. Perfect weather. Clear and frosty. Lots of trick-or-treaters . . . not counting those who were afraid to approach the house. Some laughed. Some screamed. Some screamed and laughed. And only a few cried (even when I took off my mask). Hmmmm . . . odd.

And it's time for my least favourite Halloween activity: packing it all away. Rolling up cobwebs and torn curtains. Stacking the tombstones. Tearing heads and arms off props. Snuffing out the candles . . . and then . . . starting to plan for next year (perhaps after a short break). It's also time to catch up on some of the Halloween countdown blogs I've been too busy to read during the past few weeks.

A little more leftover candy would make a nice accompaniment to blog reading . . . uh-oh . . . all gone. I wonder if my children would notice if I took just one . . . or two . . .

halloween night

. . . more of my yard haunt photos here